On November 5, the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan (WDI) will convene a virtual roundtable focused on the dynamic U.S. and Mexico collaboration in the auto industry. This discussion is in partnership with U-M’s Ross School of Business and the US-Mexico Foundation (USMF), a binational non-profit organization dedicated to fostering bilateral cooperation and understanding between the U.S. and Mexico. This discussion will feature valuable perspectives and insights from diplomats, executives and analysts.

Background

The United States and Mexico are the second- and the sixth-largest car manufacturing countries in the world, respectively. Taken together, these two global powerhouses in 2020 manufactured roughly 20 percent of the world’s passenger cars and commercial vehicles, and their automotive industries have been linked for decades. At the same time, the global automotive industry is undergoing a massive shift in how it produces and powers vehicles. Supply chain concerns have risen to the front of the agenda with recent microchip shortages, while pressure is increasing for a more sustainably powered automotive industry. And at the heart of many of these production disruptions, challenges and opportunities is the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship.